Mounting bracket

ABSTRACT

A mounting bracket includes at least one support member for supporting an object, at least one receiving member engaged to the at least one support member for receiving a leg and at least one cross member engaged to the at least one support member in which the cross member includes securing structure for receiving a shoulder mechanism and the securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions. Also, a workbench system includes at least one beam, at least one leg, at least one shoulder mechanism for supporting a movable workpiece and at least one mounting bracket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] (Not Applicable)

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] (Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates generally to workstand equipment, and more particularly to mounting brackets for supporting workpieces.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] Currently, many craftsmen use workbenches when trimming or sawing workpieces such as boards or piping. As an example, many workers use sawhorses for supporting a workpiece as work is being performed on the workpiece. One particular example is a sawhorse containing a pair of parallel beams, which can be used to support an electric saw such as a table saw or a miter saw. As the blade of the saw turns, a worker can feed a workpiece, such as a board, to the blade, which can perform the desired cut.

[0007] Significantly, however, the process of feeding the workpiece to the blade can be unstable, even dangerous. This instability may result if there is no stabilizing structure to support the workpiece as the worker urges the workpiece towards the blade. While certain sawhorses contain roller bearings for supporting the workpiece during the feeding process, the height of these roller bearings, relative to the blade, is difficult, if not impossible, to adjust. Moreover, many sawhorses do not have any structure capable of receiving a roller bearing. Thus, what is needed in the art is a mounting bracket that overcomes the limitations of the prior art without significantly increasing costs or design complexity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket in accordance with the inventive arrangements.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shoulder mechanism that can be used with the mounting bracket of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1 illustrating vertical axes V₁ and V₂.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 1 illustrating horizontal axes H₁ and H₂.

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a workbench system in accordance with the inventive arrangements.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative workbench system in accordance with the inventive arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention concerns a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes at least one support member for supporting an object, at least one receiving member engaged to the at least one support member for receiving a leg, and at least one cross member engaged to the at least one support member in which the cross member includes securing structure for receiving a shoulder mechanism and the securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.

[0015] In one aspect of the invention, wherein the securing structure can include a substantially circular coupling. The substantially circular coupling can be threaded. In another aspect of the invention, the shoulder mechanism can include a threaded rod, and the threads of the rod can engage the threads of the substantially circular coupling. In addition, the object can be substantially rectangularly-shaped, and the at least one support member can be substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving therethrough and supporting the substantially rectangularly-shaped object. The leg can be substantially rectangularly-shaped, and the at least one receiving member can be a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving therethrough the substantially rectangularly-shaped leg.

[0016] In one arrangement, the at least one support member can have a substantially vertical axis V₁, and the at least one receiving member can have an axis V₂ in which the axis V₂ of the at least one receiving member is at an angle to the substantially vertical axis V₁ of the at least one support member of between approximately five degrees and approximately seventy degrees. In addition, the at least one support member can have a substantially horizontal axis H₁, and the at least one receiving member can have an axis H₂ in which the axis H₂ of the at least one receiving member can be at an angle to the substantially horizontal axis H₁ of the at least one support member of between approximately five degrees and approximately sixty degrees.

[0017] In another arrangement, the at least one support member, the at least one receiving member and the cross member can be made of metal. Alternatively, the at least one support member, the at least one receiving member and the cross member can be made of a rigid polymer. In another aspect of the invention, the support member, the at least one receiving member and the cross member can be part of a single unitary component. In contrast, the support member, the at least one receiving member and the cross member can also be separate components.

[0018] The present invention also concerns a workbench system. The workbench system includes at least one beam, at least one leg, at least one shoulder mechanism for supporting a movable workpiece, and at least one mounting bracket, in which the mounting bracket includes at least one support member for supporting the beam, at least one receiving member engaged to the at least one support member for receiving the leg, and at least one cross member engaged to the at least one support member in which the cross member includes securing structure for receiving the shoulder mechanism, and the securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.

[0019] In one arrangement, the workbench system can further include a platform for supporting a cutting device. Also, the shoulder mechanism can include at least one roller bearing and a threaded rod. The securing structure can include a substantially circular threaded coupling in which the threads of the rod can engage the threads of the substantially circular coupling. In another aspect of the system, the roller bearing can have a substantially horizontal axis H₁, and the at least one beam can have a substantially horizontal axis H₂ in which the shoulder mechanism can further include a setting mechanism to permit the substantially horizontal axis H₁ of the roller bearing to be set substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal axis H₂ of the at least one beam.

[0020] The present invention also concerns a mounting bracket including at least one support member for supporting an object and at least one cross member engaged to the at least one support member in which the cross member includes securing structure for receiving a shoulder mechanism and the securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021]FIG. 1 illustrates a mounting bracket 10 according to the invention. The mounting bracket 10 includes one or more support members 12, one or more receiving members 14 engaged to the support members 12, one or more cross members 16 engaged to the support members 12 and a securing structure 18. It must be noted that the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, as the mounting bracket 10 can include any suitable number of support members 12, receiving members 14, cross members 16 and securing structures 18. Moreover, the mounting bracket 10 can be constructed so as to only contain one or more support members 12, one or more cross members 16 engaged to the support members 12 and a securing structure 18.

[0022] In one arrangement, the support members 12, the receiving members 14 and the cross member 16 can be part of a single unitary component. Alternatively, the support members 12, the receiving members 14 and the cross member 16 can be separate components. In the separate components arrangement, the receiving members 14 and the cross member 16 can be engaged to the support members 12 in any suitable fashion such as welding or through the use of an adhesive. Moreover, the support members 12, the receiving members 14 and the cross member 16 can be made of any suitable material such as metal or a rigid polymer.

[0023] Turning to FIG. 2, an example of a shoulder mechanism 20 is shown. In one arrangement, the shoulder mechanism 20 can include one or more roller bearings

[0024]22, a shaft 24 to which the roller bearings 22 can be rotatably coupled and a rod 26, which can be detachably coupled to the shaft 24. The shaft 24 can have a socket 33 for receiving an end 31 of the rod 26. In one arrangement, the shoulder mechanism 20 can include a setting mechanism 25 for detachably coupling the rod 26 to the shaft 24. As an example, the setting mechanism 25 can have a fastener 27 and a corresponding aperture 29. The fastener 27 can be, for example, a threaded screw, which can be inserted into the aperture 29 and twisted such that the end of the fastener engages the end 31 of the rod 26. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to this particular example, as other suitable structure for securing the shaft 24 to the rod 26 can be used. The shoulder mechanism 20 can also include one or more cotter pins 28 for securing the roller bearings 22 to the shaft 24.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the securing structure 18 can include a substantially circular coupling 30. The term “substantially circular” can include perfectly circular in addition to slight or even moderate deviations therefrom. In addition, the substantially circular coupling 30 can be threaded. The rod 26 of the shoulder mechanism 20 can also be threaded. As such, the threads of the substantially circular coupling 30 can engage the threads of the rod 26. Because the threads of the rod 26 can engage the threads of the substantially circular coupling 30, the shoulder mechanism 20 can be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.

[0026]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the mounting bracket 10. As shown, the support members 12 can have a substantially vertical axis V₁. The substantially vertical axis V₁ can be substantially vertical with respect to the horizon. It must be noted that the term “substantially vertical” includes both true vertical as well as slight or even moderate deviations therefrom. Additionally, the receiving member 14 can have an axis V₂. In one arrangement, the receiving member 14 can be engaged to the support member 12 at an angle such that the axis V₂ of the receiving member 14 is at an angle to the substantially vertical axis V₁ of the support member 12. The angle between the two axes V₁,V₂ can be any suitable angle and is not limited to the particular angle shown in FIG. 3; however, in one arrangement, the angle between the substantially vertical axis V₁ and the axis V₂ can be between approximately five degrees and approximately seventy degrees.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a substantially horizontal axis H₁ of the supporting member 12 and an axis H₂ of the receiving member 14 are shown. The substantially horizontal axis H₁ can be substantially horizontal with respect to the horizon, and the term “substantially horizontal” can include true horizontal in addition to slight or even moderate deviations therefrom. Similar to the arrangement described in relation to FIG. 3, the receiving member 14 can be engaged to the support member 12 at an angle such that the axis H₂ of the receiving member 14 is at angle to the substantially horizontal axis H₁ of the support member 12. In addition, the angle between the two axes H₁,H₂ can be any suitable angle and is not limited to the particular angle shown in FIG. 4; however, in one arrangement, the angle between axis H₁ and axis H₂ can be between approximately five degrees and approximately sixty degrees.

[0028] Referring back to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the support member 12 can be a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving therethrough and supporting a substantially rectangularly-shaped object. As an example, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the rectangularly-shaped object can be a beam 32. In addition, the receiving member 14 can be a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving therethrough a substantially rectangularly-shaped leg 34.

[0029]FIGS. 5 and 6 show two examples of workbench systems—systems 50 and 60, respectively—that can use one or more mounting brackets 10. In FIG. 5, one or more of the beams 32 can be inserted into and through the supporting members 12 of one or more mounting brackets 10. In addition, one or more legs 34 can be inserted into and through the receiving members 14. Because the receiving members 14 can be engaged to the support members 12 at an angle, as discussed in relation to FIG. 4, as the legs 34 are inserted through the receiving members 14, the ends of the legs 34 can eventually rest against an outside surface 36 of the supporting members 12. Moreover, the angle at which the receiving members 14 are engaged to the support members 12, as discussed in relation to FIG. 3, can permit the legs 34 to extend away from the mounting bracket 10 at an angle, which can provide greater stability to the system 50.

[0030] Continuing with FIG. 5 and as noted earlier, the substantially circular couplings (not shown in FIG. 5 or 6) of one or more of the mounting brackets 10 can engage one or more of the rods 26 of the shoulder mechanisms 20. The system 50 can also include a platform 38. The platform 38 can rest on top of one or more beams 32 or on top of one or more top surfaces 40 of the support members 12 of any number of mounting brackets 10. The platform 38 can permit a user to place a cutting device 42 on the system 50. In this example, the cutting device can be a table saw 44 having one or more cutting blades 46, which can be substantially parallel to the beams 32.

[0031] In operation, the legs 34 can be inserted into the receiving members 14, and the beams 32 can be inserted through the support members 12. The platform 38 can be placed on the beams 32 or on the top surfaces 40 of one or more of the mounting brackets 10. Once the platform 38 is in place, the cutting device 42 can be positioned on the platform 38. One or more shoulder mechanisms 20 can then be secured to one or more mounting brackets 10. For purposes of providing greater torque, the user can grasp and twist the roller bearings 22 of the shoulder mechanisms 20. The shoulder mechanisms 20, because of the threaded engagement between the rod 26 and the substantially circular coupling 30 (not shown in FIG. 5 or 6), can be adjusted to any suitable height. In one arrangement, the height of a shoulder mechanism 20 can be adjusted to a height that can permit the smooth transition of a workpiece 48 along the shoulder mechanism 20 to the cutting blade 46 of the cutting device 42. Moreover, the shoulder mechanisms 20 can be moved laterally into any suitable position merely by moving an associated mounting bracket 10.

[0032] In another arrangement, the roller bearings 22 can have a substantially horizontal axis H₁, and the beam(s) 32 can have a substantially horizontal axis H₂. Both of these axes can be substantially horizontal with respect to the horizon, and, again, the term “substantially horizontal” can include true horizontal as well as slight or even moderate deviations therefrom. Once the shoulder mechanism 20 has been adjusted to the desired height, the user can use the setting mechanism (not shown in FIG. 5 or 6) to adjust the orientation of the roller bearings 22 if so needed. Specifically, the user can loosen the fastener (not shown in FIG. 5 or 6) of the setting mechanism and can twist the roller bearings 22 to the desired orientation. The user can then tighten the fastener of the setting mechanism to maintain this orientation.

[0033] As an example, the orientation of the roller bearings 22 can be adjusted such that the axis H₁ of the roller bearings 22 is substantially perpendicular to the axis H₂ of the beam(s) 32. The term “substantially perpendicular” includes true perpendicular in addition to slight or even moderate deviations thereform. Moreover, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to this particular example, as the roller bearings 22, or any other component of the shoulder mechanism 20, can be adjusted to any suitable orientation.

[0034] The workpiece 48 can be positioned on top of the roller bearings 22 of one or more shoulder mechanisms 20. The workpiece 48 can be any type of material capable of being urged towards and cut by the cutting device 42. The shoulder mechanisms 20 can stabilize the workpiece 48 as the workpiece 48 is fed to the cutting device 42. In addition, the roller bearings 22 of the shoulder mechanism 20 can assist the user in propelling the workpiece 48 towards the cutting device 42, as the roller bearings 22 can translate the pushing action applied to the workpiece 48 into a rotational force which acts on the workpiece 48.

[0035] The cutting device 42 can cut the workpiece 48 into any suitable number of pieces. As an example and as shown in FIG. 5, the cutting device 42 can cut the workpiece 48 into two pieces 48 a and 48 b. As the workpiece 48 continues to be fed to the cutting device 42, any shoulder mechanisms 20 positioned on the exit side of the cutting device 42 can support and help propel away from the cutting device 42 the two pieces 48 a and 48 b. Of course, the invention is not limited to this example, as the workpiece 48 can be cut any number of times into any suitable number of pieces.

[0036] Turning to FIG. 6, another example of a second workbench system 60 is shown. The overall structure and operation of the system 60 is similar to the system 50 except that a different cutting device 42 can be used. For example, the cutting device 42 here can be a miter saw 52, which can provide a lateral cut to the workpiece 48, as opposed to the longitudinal cut provided by the table saw 44 of system 50.

[0037] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting bracket, comprising: at least one support member for supporting an object; at least one receiving member engaged to said at least one support member for receiving a leg; and at least one cross member engaged to said at least one support member; wherein said cross member includes securing structure for receiving a shoulder mechanism; wherein said securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.
 2. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said securing structure includes a substantially circular coupling.
 3. The mounting bracket according to claim 2, wherein said substantially circular coupling is threaded.
 4. The mounting bracket according to claim 3, wherein the shoulder mechanism includes a threaded rod and the threads of the rod engage said threads of said substantially circular coupling.
 5. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the object is substantially rectangularly-shaped and said at least one support member is a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving therethrough and supporting the substantially rectangularly-shaped object.
 6. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the leg is substantially rectangularly-shaped and said at least one receiving member is a substantially rectangularly-shaped sleeve for receiving therethrough the substantially rectangularly-shaped leg.
 7. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support member has a substantially vertical axis V₁ and said at least one receiving member has an axis V₂; wherein said axis V₂ of said at least one receiving member is at an angle to said substantially vertical axis V₁ of said at least one support member of between approximately five degrees and approximately seventy degrees.
 8. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support member has a substantially horizontal axis H₁ and said at least one receiving member has an axis H₂; wherein said axis H₂ of said at least one receiving member is at an angle to said substantially horizontal axis H₁ of said at least one support member of between approximately five degrees and approximately sixty degrees.
 9. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support member, said at least one receiving member and said cross member are made of metal.
 10. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support member, said at least one receiving member and said cross member are made of a rigid polymer.
 11. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said support member, said at least one receiving member and said cross member are part of a single unitary component.
 12. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein said support member, said at least one receiving member and said cross member are separate components.
 13. A workbench system, comprising: at least one beam; at least one leg; at least one shoulder mechanism for supporting a movable workpiece; and at least one mounting bracket, wherein said mounting bracket includes: at least one support member for supporting said beam; at least one receiving member engaged to said at least one support member for receiving said leg; and at least one cross member engaged to said at least one support member; wherein said cross member includes securing structure for receiving said shoulder mechanism; wherein said securing structure permits said shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions.
 14. The workbench system according to claim 1, further comprising a platform for supporting a cutting device.
 15. The workbench system according to claim 1, wherein said shoulder mechanism includes at least one roller bearing and a threaded rod.
 16. The workbench system according to claim 15, wherein said securing structure includes a substantially circular threaded coupling; wherein said threads of said rod engage said threads of said substantially circular coupling.
 17. The workbench system according to claim 15, wherein said roller bearing has a substantially horizontal axis H₁ and said at least one beam has a substantially horizontal axis H₂; wherein said shoulder mechanism further includes a setting mechanism to permit said substantially horizontal axis H₁ of said roller bearing to be set substantially perpendicular to said substantially horizontal axis H₂ of said at least one beam.
 18. A mounting bracket, comprising: at least one support member for supporting an object; and at least one cross member engaged to said at least one support member; wherein said cross member includes securing structure for receiving a shoulder mechanism; wherein said securing structure permits the shoulder mechanism to be variably adjusted into a plurality of fixed positions. 